Match thread Forest v Villa Wednesday 13.03.2019

[Saunders82]

After a very eventful derby on Sunday we move on to another massive game against a local team and one managed by an ex manager, Martin O'Neill will have them keyed up for this one but we have been pretty good up there in recent games and I think we have gained a little momentum I'm going for a 1-2 win for us, it will be tough but we have been very solid of late and bottom line we need the win to keep the pressure up, if we do then the teams above and around us will feel the heat. Us fans have had some torrid times of late its about time we had something to get excited about, COYL

[Dazzle]

Confidence is on the rise again, long overdue. I’m hoping the weekends events will further galvanise our lads, maybe a bit of a siege mentality will show? I’d go with the same 11 again, I certainly wouldn’t be looking to rest Whelan (as some are advocating) for this game, he can rest during the international break after this coming weekend. Maybe he can be rested against Boro, it’s a Pulis side that won’t particularly be free flowing or attack minded, good time to rest elder DMs. So full throttle with the same 11 for Forest. Bench the same again also. Go there and nick a 1-0 win. UTV

[VillaBill]

I don’t know why, but my minds eye has already read
Nottingham Forest 0 v 2 Aston Villa
UTV

[Saunders82]

Not a bad first half from us, John McGinn loves a shot, their goal was just a fluke Colback was the most surprised player on the pitch when it went in.

[VTID85]

Solid half, ahead at the break. Come on you Villa boys.

[VillaBill]

In control for much of the game , Lolley apart, I’m confident we can go on and win .
We’ve got McGinn
Super John McGinn

[Dazzle]

Not a bad first half from us, John McGinn loves a shot, their goal was just a fluke Colback was the most surprised player on the pitch when it went in.

Forest have had 2 or 3 lucky punts in that 1st half, Lolley again their most lively and likely looking route to a goal. We need to be more professional 2nd half and not invite unnecessary pressure as I didn’t see much from Forest apart from good huff & puff. Stop the silly little fouls giving them set piece opportunities where we look less than convincing. I wouldn’t leave it too long before making changes if Forest start the 2nd half as the 1st finished. Whelan and Adomah ought to enjoy coming on in this game, ElGhazi needs to step it up.

[LVBrit]

Have also noticed a couple of times both today and against the noses, Mings pulling players away from the ref to stop them talking themselves into a card. A cool head in the heat of battle is always a bonus.

[FoxyAV]

Have also noticed a couple of times both today and against the noses, Mings pulling players away from the ref to stop them talking themselves into a card. A cool head in the heat of battle is always a bonus.

And he's encouraging everyone all the time. We really have to try to buy him whichever league we're in.

[VTID85]

Have also noticed a couple of times both today and against the noses, Mings pulling players away from the ref to stop them talking themselves into a card. A cool head in the heat of battle is always a bonus.

And he's encouraging everyone all the time. We really have to try to buy him whichever league we're in.

Yes, yes and thrice yes. An absolute revelation for us, cannot understate his importance to our team now.

[Saunders82]

Have also noticed a couple of times both today and against the noses, Mings pulling players away from the ref to stop them talking themselves into a card. A cool head in the heat of battle is always a bonus.

And he's encouraging everyone all the time. We really have to try to buy him whichever league we're in.

Yes, yes and thrice yes. An absolute revelation for us, cannot understate his importance to our team now.

He controls that back line and it shows he is immense, bets thing is I think he is enjoying himself.

[VTID85]

Have also noticed a couple of times both today and against the noses, Mings pulling players away from the ref to stop them talking themselves into a card. A cool head in the heat of battle is always a bonus.

And he's encouraging everyone all the time. We really have to try to buy him whichever league we're in.

Yes, yes and thrice yes. An absolute revelation for us, cannot understate his importance to our team now.

He controls that back line and it shows he is immense, bets thing is I think he is enjoying himself.

Absolutely. Between him, Grealish, McGinn and Abraham we've got quality and passion in spades.

Shout out to Steer as well, didn't have a great deal to do again tonight but other than getting a bit caught out by Colbeck's "shot" looks solid. Funny, a keeper we've had in our ranks for some time, Nyland and Kalinic have a lot to prove to take his place.

[deadbuzz]

What a win, I wasn't expecting six points from the last two games, both away, against teams in form, and both with reasons to try extra hard against us. We've done well.

[Dazzle]

What a win, I wasn't expecting six points from the last two games, both away, against teams in form, and both with reasons to try extra hard against us. We've done well.

We’ve done superbly these last few games, given ourselves a chance again. That’s all it is, though, a chance. We have to go on and do something we haven’t done for a very long time, which is to build on the platform we’ve given ourselves. Slightly different circumstances but let’s not do what we did after the Wolves win last season

[deadbuzz]

Just seen a stat on twitter, that Grealish has been back for three games, and we've won all of them, which means we've already won more in that time, than we did whilst he was out injured.

[FoxyAV]

A few extra (you know, on top of McGinn, Grealish, Mings and all the other players) things impressed me last night:

1. our movement off the ball and pairs of our players closing down the opposition. It struck me that we didn't see this under Bruce.

2. the team spirit - they were definitely in it together.

3. they tired before we did!

4. is Steer the missing link in our defence? We look more composed, can it just be Mings and Hause or does Jed glue them all together and command his box?

[Dazzle]

A few extra (you know, on top of McGinn, Grealish, Mings and all the other players) things impressed me last night:

1. our movement off the ball and pairs of our players closing down the opposition. It struck me that we didn't see this under Bruce.

2. the team spirit - they were definitely in it together.

3. they tired before we did!

4. is Steer the missing link in our defence? We look more composed, can it just be Mings and Hause or does Jed glue them all together and command his box?

Steer commands his box, he uses all of it. That gives defenders confidence because it reduces the size of the pitch they are responsible for. He’s also used to the rough and tumble and can look after himself. We’d be stupid not to give him a new deal.
If we can secure 3pts this Saturday then everything looks brighter. On the other side of the international break we’ll have currently injured players available again, hopefully at least one of those will be a CB. It is beginning to look like we are going into the business end of the season with an inform and increasingly fit squad. The sooner we can get Hause back to LB the better, we’ll be even stronger then with either Chester/Tuanzebe paired with Mings. Special mention for Glenn Whelan who seems to have found his role with Dean Smith and has been excellent over the last month.

[FoxyAV]

A few extra (you know, on top of McGinn, Grealish, Mings and all the other players) things impressed me last night:

1. our movement off the ball and pairs of our players closing down the opposition. It struck me that we didn't see this under Bruce.

2. the team spirit - they were definitely in it together.

3. they tired before we did!

4. is Steer the missing link in our defence? We look more composed, can it just be Mings and Hause or does Jed glue them all together and command his box?

Steer commands his box, he uses all of it. That gives defenders confidence because it reduces the size of the pitch they are responsible for. He’s also used to the rough and tumble and can look after himself. We’d be stupid not to give him a new deal.
If we can secure 3pts this Saturday then everything looks brighter. On the other side of the international break we’ll have currently injured players available again, hopefully at least one of those will be a CB. It is beginning to look like we are going into the business end of the season with an inform and increasingly fit squad. The sooner we can get Hause back to LB the better, we’ll be even stronger then with either Chester/Tuanzebe paired with Mings. Special mention for Glenn Whelan who seems to have found his role with Dean Smith and has been excellent over the last month.

Whelan's grown on me, I can't work out if his fitness has improved or if Smith and co have mobilised everyone else around him so well it covers some of his lack of pace. I've always thought he's a 70th/80th-minute sub, where he can be most effective without losing energy and maybe that's what we'll see for the rest of the season.

The only holes in the team now seem to be when El Ghazi and Adomah play. The former has flashes of brilliance but the latter just hasn't found his groove this season. Saying that he looked like he was limping slightly yesterday. I can't help thing Davis is going to be the only winger to be with us next season. Which is a shame because Adomah just hasn't done anything wrong for us. Whether it's physical or mental this season we probably won't find out but he's not working and it's a huge shame.

[Dazzle]

I still think Albert has a part to play this season, he can score a goal and he’ll be needed between now and seasons end. He’s not at the heights of the first half of last season, but they were high in fairness. That said I think it’s probably in his head that he knows he’ll be moving on this summer, in all likelihood. ElGhazi hasn’t kicked on from his pre-Christmas form, but I think he’s working hard to adapt to the rigours of championship football, let’s not forget that many foreign players have struggled during their 1st winter in English footballer. I’d seen enough pre-Christmas to make me think he can be an asset.

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